Monday, December 17, 2012

The Wonder Weeks

Have you often wondered what's going on inside that tiny head of your baby? I know I have (especially when NOTHING seems to please her!) That's why I've visited the Wonder Weeks website often since Claire was born. I'm fascinated by the authors' contention that babies reach mental milestones at predictable ages that change the way they perceive the world. Who wouldn't want such a wonderful window into the world of babies? After all, babies do a lot of communicating, but what they are actually saying often remains a big mystery.

The book's authors outline 10 stages of a baby's development called mental leaps. Each stage is often proceeded by a period of fussiness, as a baby learns to process her world in a new way. At eight weeks, they contend that a baby starts to understand simple patterns such as "the way light displays shadows on the wall", or at 46 weeks, a baby begins to understand that there's an order in which things are done to reach a goal.

My daughter, Claire, is just past the 75 week milestone, a time when the authors suggest that toddlers begin to recognize they're part of a family, distinct from others.

This mental leap is clearly evident at our house. Claire is obsessed with family right now. She will point at us, back and forth, "mama, papa, mama, papa", over and over. Her friend Archie and his mother Elaine are referred to as the one-word contraction, "ArchiElaine". Of course, as with anything toddler, she tends to overgeneralize. She points to all kinds of images throughout the day, and calls them mama.

She calls me some things that are sweet. Some of the things named "mama" truly make me wonder. I don't wonder what week it is, but, rather, what planet my daughter is from. Here's a sampling of the random things she has called "mama" from the last few days:

Adorable Mama:

Classical Mama:

Holy Mother of God Mama (my personal favorite):

Sex Change Mama (huh?):

"Really? Should I be insulted? What's she thinking?" Mama

(On second thought, I am rather frazzled. Maybe, my daughter -- and the Wonder Weeks-- is on to something.)

HA! I totally relate to that one. Well...some of the milestones seem really evident, some seem crazy, some are very abstract and hard to even really wrap your head around. So it's a mix -- take it or leave it.There's also a part that explains when and why your child may be cranky at a particular time. Again, sometimes it fits. Overall, I feel like the site has helped me understand my daughter better, and respond to her with more empathy because I do. It can be hard to understand what's going through tiny heads, and I find any insight helpful!

Hmmm... my daughter is four and has to put everything in to families. If there are several toilet paper rolls laying near each other then they are a family. The other day she lined up some of the different spray bottles in the bathroom and pointed out each one and their role in the family, the daddy, the mommy, and so on. I hope she stays out of my maxipads, I really have no desire to know about that "family".

Stopping by from the Unorganized Chaos blog hop. The book is out of print but...there's an app for that! It's pretty good, just plug in baby's birthdate and it will alert you when he/she is "leaping", I have friends who swear by it, but I was more of a Babywise kind of mom.

Claire is at one of those developmental ages that I love!!! It is so cool to see how fast they start processing stuff now and to see their little personalities emerge. Enjoy it!! Hey--just wanted to let you know that I FINALLY completed the blog post that you tagged me in if you want to check out the 5 wishes thing. I added your link to it, too. Thanks again of including me!!!

Hi Rachel, just stopping by to say how delightful your blog is. Thanks so much for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chrishttp://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.ca/

I hope you're having a great week my dear! Thank you so much for linking up to last week's Aloha Friday Blog Hop!! I'm following you.

If you have time, we'd love to have you come and link up to the Aloha Friday Blog Hop if you haven't already! We are hosting a great giveaway too which is a wonderful opportunity to give some extra exposure to you lovely blog. Come and link up, enter the giveaway and celebrate the coming weekend with us!

Haha! I LOVE the wonder weeks - I have the book and whenever my son is going through a difficult phase, open it up and what do you know - it's usually a wonder week. Happy to be your newest follower from the everyday harvest blog hop!

Haha! That's a whole bunch of different roles you play there. Especially the sex change Mama! The Wonder Weeks website sounds interesting, will have to check it out.Thanks for linking up with FYBF. Please don't forget to add the FYBF button. Cheers!

i've never heard of this but i guess it makes sense - its crazy that it is that similar for every child though (although not as crazy as the things she is now calling mama :) found your cute blog from the hop and excited to be your newest follower!merry christmas,-elisabeth